A chronological TV watching plan for your weekend.
Thursday
6:00 pm - ESPN2 - Middle Tenn St at Louisville (-40)
If you caught last week's thrashing of Murray St., you know what Louisville can do against inferior opponents at home. Expect the same. Lay the points.
Pick - Louisville -40
6:30 pm - ESPN - Oregon St. (-3.5) at Cincinnati
Oregon State's QB play worries the crap out of me, with 3 guys sparing us to death against Utah. Cincinnati looked damn good last week against a shatty team. Oregon State didn't play horrible on offense, but it wasn't stellar. The defense completely stuffed a pretty good team and athletic, talented QB (Brian Johnson).
Pick - Oregon State -3.5
7:30 pm - NBC - New Orleans at Indy (-6)
Really don't like the NFL, but I will watch this game because of the talented offenses. These 2 teams will actually produce an entertaining NFL game only because of their offenses. I don't know much, but I know Indy lost some key parts and New Orleans returns virtually everyone. And if last year's gambling season proved anything to me, it's that when in doubt, always take the underdog.
Pick - New Orleans +6
Friday
6:00 pm - ESPN - Navy at Rutgers (-16.5)
Won't even be a game. Ray Rice may have 250 yards rushing. Blowout.
Pick - Rutgers -16.5
Saturday
11:00 am - ESPN - Nebraska (-8) at Wake Forest
The first road test for Sam Keller and Nebraska. Wake Forest coming off a 10 point loss to Boston College on the road in which they were torched for 400 yards passing. Nebraska coming off a 600+ yard total offense effort against Nevada (a bowl team the past 2 years). The Nebraska defense also gave up no TD's. Nebraska can now run the ball and protect the QB, 2 things that are a must on the road. Expect Callahan to let Keller air it out. I see a 10-14 point win for Nebraska.
Pick - Nebraska -8
11:00 am - ABC - Miami at Oklahoma (-10.5)
Oklahoma scored 79 points vs. North Texas. Against a high school coach who was rumored to have run the same 1-look defense all game, against maybe a top 5 worst team in the country, and against a team that is still trying to implement a totally different offensive scheme. Basically Oklahoma did what they should have done.
I know I'm high on them, but after thinking about it a little, I'm reversing field and giving Miami a great shot at this. A top 5 defense, a stellar D-line, a ball hawking safety, and a veteran QB give me hope that they can cover and I wouldn't be surprised if they pull it out. Bradford may get sacked 5+ times and picked off more than a few times.
Pick - Miami +10.5
1:00 pm - CSTV - Cal (-14) at Colorado St.
Expect a ton of points. Expect a DeSean Jackson highlight. Expect to be entertained. And expect Colorado State to cover.
Pick - Colorado State +14
1:30 pm - ESPN2 - NC State at Boston College (-14)
A rookie starter and ex-Husker goes for NC State at QB. I just can't let my preseason sleeper and ACC Atlantic Champ not cover 2 TD's at home vs. a team like this.
Pick - Boston College -14
2:30 pm - ABC - Oregon at Michigan (-8)
How does Michigan respond? I'd say by barely beating Oregon. I hate this team so much I don't want to write anything else about them. An overrated team year after year.
Pick - Oregon +8
2:30 pm - FSNSW - Fresno State at Texas A&M (-17)
Texas A&M rolls.
Pick - Texas A&M -17
4:00 pm - ESPNU - UAB at Florida State (-33.5)
Another team I despise because of how mediocre they've become and how overrated they consistently are. What people don't realize about Bowden is that he's been doing nothing for the last 20 years. He has hasn't made an executive decision since the early 90's. He'll grab the headset every once in a while and listen in on his assistants, but he's basically there to fill up piss bags and call recruits during timeouts.
Pick - UAB +33.5
4:45 pm - ESPN2 - South Carolina at Georgia (-5)
I really like Georgia, mainly because I think Matt Stafford is going to really take off this year. South Carolina looked like crap last week, and Georgia just doesn't lose at home between the hedges. The win over Oklahoma State really impressed me. If they can shut down OSU's offense, they'll rip Spurrier's A-hole into next week.
Pick - Georgia -5
5:00 pm - ESPN - Notre Dame at Penn State (-17)
Watch this line, as it could quadruple in the next 2 days. Another team in my crosshairs, Notre Dame, absolutely sucks. And now that they've thrown that Clausen kid in there, forget about it. An embarassing runaway blowout victory for Penn State. And Jaba the Hut continues to be the most overrated coach in America.
Pick - Penn State -17
5:30 pm - Versus - BYU at UCLA (-7.5)
Is there anything more fun to watch than a late afternoon game from the Rose Bowl? Even if you don't like either team, flip over to this game and just enjoy the beauty of the gold helmets and the Rose Bowl.
Pick - UCLA -7.5
6:00 pm - FSNSW - TCU at Texas (-9)
Reasons to watch - to see Mack Brown apologize for a non-conference loss at home, to watch the man child Tommy Blake for TCU, to watch Colt McCoy look ordinary and flustered by the TCU defense, to watch the cameras pan the crowd for hot UT ass, and to maybe catch any possible Jamal Charles interviews. Upset.
Pick - TCU +9
8:00 pm - ESPN2 - South Florida at Auburn (-7)
After watching the crap Auburn pulled last weekend vs. Kansas State, don't be surprised if South Florida comes in and wins this game. It's unlikely, but Tommy ball preaches 1 point games, so take the points.
Pick - South Florida +7
8:15 pm - ESPN - Virginia Tech at LSU (-12.5)
The marquee matchup of the day will turn out to be more hype than anything. LSU and VT will struggle to score, but VT will have more trouble than LSU. Expect a 20-3 LSU win that won't even be that close.
Pick - LSU -12.5
THE CROWN GAME
First, let me explain the crown game. You've basically been laid out on the couch, out in the garage, or somewhere else watching games since 11 am. You've almost maxed out your drinking for the day, maxed out your football watching as well, and you're ready to wind your day down. But you can squeeze one more game in however. So you retire to your bedroom or your recliner, turn off the lights, mix 1 (or 2,3,4) Crown Royal drinks, turn down the A/C, and catch a late-night West Coast game. You can fall asleep to great scenery, great stadiums, great looking coeds, and lots of offense. Thus, you have enjoyed the Crown Game.
9:15 pm - FSNSW - Colorado at Arizona St. (-15)
Lots of offense, great looking women in the stands, and always the possibility of an in-game arrest with Dennis Erickson now coaching Arizona State.
Pick - Arizona State -15
Sunday
As much as I despise the NFL, there's nothing else to watch on Sundays, I still love the Cowboys, and I'm in 3 Fantasy Football Leagues. So I guess I'll throw a few games in here.
12:00 pm - FOX - Philadelphia (-3) at Green Bay
The Donovan McNabb comeback tour starts in the land of cheese, beer, and bratwurst. Philly is my Super Bowl pick, so let's get on 'em right off the bat.
Pick - Philadelphia -3
12:00 pm - CBS - Miami at Washington (-3)
Who cares????? Why I hate the NFL, give me one reason to watch this game.
Pick - Home team? Washington -3
7:15 - NBC - NY Giants at Dallas (-5)
Our first 2007 interfacing with John Madden. Oh how I missed his brilliant color commentary. His stellar explanations of complicated football details have me dialed in every Sunday night. Me and every other soccer mom out there, which he apparently thinks is his audience. NY sucks, Eli sucks, I don't care who's injured for Dallas, this team sucks.
Pick - Dallas -5
- Non TV picks of the weekend (in order of confidence)
1) Tennessee (-10.5) vs. Southern Miss
2) Florida (-26.5) vs. Troy
3) West Virginia (-24) at Marshall
4) Missouri (-6) at Ole Miss
5) Northwestern (-10) vs. Nevada
- Nebraska vs. Wake Forest
- Wake Forest Scouting Report
Insider: Wake Forest
BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star
Thursday, Sep 06, 2007 - 12:16:19 am CDT
Kenneth Moore, WR / Sr. / 6-0 / 204 pounds
Moore’s 15 catches against Boston College last week were nearly half his 2006 season total of 32. He was called into emergency running back duty last year, so don’t be surprised to see Wake Forest try him on the ol’ end-around sometime Saturday.
Sam Swank, PK-P /So. / 6-2 / 206 pounds
In the opener, he certainly didn’t look like the team MVP or All-ACC player of a year ago, averaging just 31.3 yards on six punts. NU shouldn’t expect to see a guy who in 2006 averaged 41.2 yards and hit 23 of 31 field goals to be off his game again.
Alphonso Smith, CB / Jr. / 5-9 / 191 pounds
Boston College tried to pick on Smith on its opening play last week and he returned an interception for a score. Don’t let his size fool you into thinking he lacks pop, either. He also forced a second-quarter fumble that was returned for a TD.
Quarterbacks: Nebraska catches a break here, as last year’s ACC rookie of the year, Riley Skinner, is listed as doubtful after separating his shoulder in the opener. Another 6-foot-1 Floridian, Brett Hodges, replaced Skinner late in the third quarter last week and completed 17 of 23 passes for 130 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Skinner marched the Demon Deacons 77 yards to pay dirt on his first drive. But without the support of a running game, he needed to keep up that Superman act — tough task considering Wake Forest’s offensive system is designed for the quarterback to be more of an efficient manager than a super hero.
Running backs: Wake Forest’s 2-yard rushing output last week had people bringing up a 1998 game against Florida State in which the Deacons wound up with minus 30. The top tailbacks, senior Micah Andrews (coming back from knee surgery) and sophomore Kevin Harris, may need to work on their shake-n-bake moves, because they were definitely in the frying pan while producing a combined 17 yards in the opener. Redshirt freshman Josh Adams, the leading rusher in North Carolina two years ago, could get a shot, as De’Angelo Bryant is moving to fullback to provide depth for the versatile Rich Belton.
Wide receivers: It’s scary to think what Kenneth Moore might have done last week had he not spent most of the third quarter receiving fluids to fight off dehydration. As it was, he still grabbed a nation-best 15 passes. Wake Forest’s passing game is more East-West than North-South, but opposite Moore, Kevin Marion is a reliable deep threat (he had two plays of longer than 80 yards last year), and he had five catches against Boston College. Demir Boldin, whose brother, Anquan, was 2003 NFL rookie of the year, could be the wild card. In 2005, he was No. 2 on the team in receptions, but last year was academically ineligible.
Offensive line: The folks at Athlon who touted Wake Forest for having the best offensive line in the ACC must be scratching their heads after last week’s struggles. Or maybe that ranking was based on pass protection? The line did give up just two sacks in the opener. The respect for this group starts with senior center Steve Justice, a preseason first-team All-American by Lindy’s, and NFL prospect Chris DeGeare (6-foot-4, 362 pounds) at right guard. Even with these guys, Wake Forest, trailing by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, couldn’t get the yard it needed on consecutive runs and had to turn the ball over on downs.
Defensive line: NU’s offensive tackles probably won’t have to deal with end Matt Robinson, who led the Deacons in sacks and tackles for losses in 2005, and had worked his way back after missing last season with a broken kneecap. But he sprained his ankle on the first play against Boston College and isn’t expected to play Saturday. On the other side, Jeremy Thompson has similar explosiveness. He’s one of only nine players from coach Jim Grobe’s seven recruiting classes to play as a true freshman. The four who’ve exhausted their eligibility went on to play professionally. Inside, holding blocks against Zach Stukes is a tough assignment.
Linebackers: This group might have been considered the best in the ACC if Jon Abbate hadn’t declared for the NFL following his junior season. As it is, Abbate is with the Houston Texans and Wake Forest is still pretty salty. Aaron Curry, the No. 2 tackler in 2006, appears ready for an expanded role, while Stanley Arnoux , who manned the outside position opposite Curry last season and finished No. 4 on the team in tackles, is replacing Abbate in the middle. Chantz McClinic has taken Curry’s old spot and was the third-leading tackler last week. Depth might be a concern, as redshirt freshmen are at two of the backup spots.
Defensive backs: After allowing 408 passing yards in their opener, the Deacons rank 114th out of 115 NCAA Division I-A teams. Kevin Patterson, a starting cornerback in 2006, has moved to strong safety but might switch back if Kerry Major doesn’t make quick strides. Boston College picked on him often last week (he had eight tackles and just one breakup). The other corner, Alphonso Smith, began the season with an interception return for a TD and also caused another turnover that produced a score. Free safety Chip Vaughn turned Smith’s second play into a 38-yard fumble return.
Special teams: Maybe Sam Swank was miffed that the offense didn’t give him any field-goal opportunities last week. Whatever it was, the two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist (who in two seasons has made 42 of 55 field goals, including 7 of 9 from at least 50 yards), barely averaged 30 yards on six punts and had just one of those fair-caught. Don’t expect a repeat performance. The Deacons’ starting wide receivers double as return men. Kenneth Moore averaged 13 yards as a part-time punt returner last season. Now, he’s the No. 1 option. Kevin Marian (16.8-yard average last week) handles kickoffs.
SCOUTING REPORT
In his first game as Boston College’s coach last Saturday, Jeff Jagodzinski watched his team overcome a 14-0 deficit to beat Wake Forest 38-28 thanks to quarterback Matt Ryan throwing for five touchdowns and the defense limiting the Demon Deacons to 2 yards rushing.
The Eagles rushed for just 54 yards, but “we got our game plan upside down a little bit, because we had to throw the football to get back in it.”
Jagodzinski credited Ryan for executing the game plan when Wake Forest had good pass coverage.
“One of the things that we do here is we spread the ball around pretty well, and we had nine different receivers catches passes. Our scheme is built on that. We don’t have a go-to guy, so Matt’s the guy who runs the whole train.
“Our defense did a really good job all (game) on stopping the run. They were forced to pass, which they’re not a passing team. They want to run first, and we ended up taking that away from ‘em.”
That was not surprising, though.
“I thought our run defense in the spring and preseason was pretty darn good. We had a hard time running against ‘em.”
After Wake Forest lost Skinner in the third quarter, Hodges led the Deacons on a 77-yard TD that made it 35-28. But the next two series produced just 28 yards, and Hodges then threw an interception on the final possession.
“They were driving to tie the ball game up, and then we got up two scores, so they had to throw. I don’t think they changed (their play calling) at all (because of having a different quarterback).”
- A well respected Insider's look at the Texas victory over Arkansas State
Texas Football: Quick Impressions of Arkansas St Game
September 1st, 2007 by Scipio Tex
Right now I’m doing an impression of a pile of steaming baboon [censored].
Make no mistake, had we played Appalachian State, a Division I-AA squad of actual quality, we would have lost by two touchdowns. That’s not hyperbole. It’s empirical fact. I just looked up the word complacency in Wikipedia and it had a picture of our coaching staff holding Lloyd Carr commemorative 1997 Michigan MNC mugs. If any of you come at me with a “a win is a win” I will hunt you down by your IP address and make you read Bill Little soliloquys until you take your own life.
We were outplayed by a Div I-AA football team that outgained us 397-340, demonstrated a superior running and passing game, had better coaching and headier QBing, and generally outhustled us despite their sloppy penalties and a smooth screwing by the officials on the onside kick. They botched multiple opportunities in the red zone and missed some chip shot field goals. That’s how we escaped our home field with a win.
I watched the game in a sports bar in San Francisco full of alcohol and ire, so without the benefit of TIVO, crayons, and a Strawberry Shortcake spiral, my observations will be of the 10,000 foot variety; I’ll write on a more granular level when given the opportunity though watching a replay of that pathetic effort will be trying. Every single concern that we could have had about this football team before the year has been proven absolutely valid while several concerns we didn’t have have surfaced prominently.
It’s going to be a long year, boys. Pray to Odin that another VY is in the pipeline who through sheer force of his personality can push our prolapsed uterii into place and fashion our staff a pair of makeshift gridiron clackers.
Offense
Our gameplan was gutless in only the way a Greg Davis gameplan can be, though this pecuilar variety of squeezable softness usually only surfaces in Dallas. 1st and goal. The score is 21-6. We’ve struggled, but now it’s time to ice the game. Let’s finish this thing, score again to go up 35-6 and go get better watching the film. We open in a spread set. Eh? Did I mention that it was 1st and goal? Four downs later, they have the ball. We escape with a 21-13 win, tails tucked securely over our poop hatch.
Our running game is an abomination…by design. I’m not interested in discussing push at the point of the attack, though it was lacking. I’ll be happy to explain how simple down blocking alleviates that problem, but that’s deep football knowledge, the kind of [censored] most of us picked up playing in high school. As with the Dark Days of Tim Nunez, I’m not interested in talking about the mosquito, I’m interested in talking about the swamp. We dwell in an environment of proscribed failure. Without a running threat at QB, our players operate at schematic disadvantage on every play because our offensive coordinator can’t be bothered to notice that the lateral running game isn’t the most efficient means of moving downhill. Rare is the time I try to drive to New York from Austin by heading West for several hundred miles first. Delayed counters don’t work against run blitzes and toss sweeps in a 3 WR set don’t go really well against a nine man front goalline defense. These are just things I’ve picked up along the way in life. Call me Paul Brown.
JC is a special runner trapped in a comically inept run scheme. When a RB has to break three tackles in the backfield to get three yards, you need to look at the system, not the players. Let me emphasize run game. JC’s blocking was horrendous throughout the game and he whiffed on blitz pickup on at least five occasions. On two of those occasions he ran past a blitzing linebacker, saw Colt get nailed, then let out a little Mack Brown clap that was captured on replay. Good stuff there.
The passing game was off throughout the game. I’ll give the wide receivers a very solid passing grade. Sweed made some tough catches and Nate Jones was hosed on at least two scoring opportunities when Colt threw passes with his left arm, apparently. Colt just looked uncomfortable. I can’t really qualify it better than that. I’m a Colt fan, but I’m not entirely sure that he’s over last year’s injury. Balls were sailing, he continuously underthrew open receivers, and he demonstrated bizarre lapses in arm strength. The interceptions were just…odd. Colt wasn’t a concern for me before this season. He is now.
Jermichael Finley was wisely hidden in our gameplan. We wouldn’t want our second most talented receiving option to get more than one catch for eight yards. It might alert others to his presence. Let’s keep that weapon hidden for Baylor.
Defense
Duane Akina wore DC training wheels for years and it might be time to put them back on. Larry MacDuff continues to uphold a decade long tradition of linebacker coaching. Our blitzes were as disguised as Donald Trump in a blonde wig and Oprah with a Sharpie moustache. On several occasions, our blitz front didn’t match our secondary coverage. The hot route is as open as a Buddhist’s mind. Screening us is laughably easy.
The back 7 is as pedestrian as anticipated - equally against the run and pass. It ran the gamut: bad technique, being physically beaten, not having an awareness of the ball in the air. Eventually, we started offering ten to twelve yard cushions, which suggests that a Texas Pom Girl could have grabbed 5 for 60 and a touch against us. I won’t call out Foster and Palmer specifically, but it’s time to go young and the time is now.
As usual, our top four tacklers were all in the secondary, a rather amazing accomplishment given the fact that Arkansas St ran the ball 30 times (34 minus 4 sacks), threw several screens and swing passes, and double teamed our DL on every running play. Typically, LBs will make some of those plays, but then again, I’m a boring football traditionalist. Our LBs contributed at expectation: Bobino was lost in the zone read, Derry making plays metaphysically, Killebrew drawing key personal fouls on 3rd and long, the youngsters promising and full of potential but apparently never having received a moment of mentoring in their lives. We’ve contributed a decade of non-development at this position and our standard has been upheld. I appreciate that sort of consistency and rigor.
The front four played OK, though Okam was absolutely excellent. He is finally healthy and it showed. God bless him and I hope he’s our next millionaire DT. Losing Orakpo ripped out my heart and I wish him a speedy return. Jones, Lokey, Houston and Lewis all made plays, but not at the level expected given the competition. Arkansas St clearly diagnosed who our playmakers are and they made sure they got the attention they deserved. Watching two unblocked LBs sprint past a ASU RB who simply delayed and planted to get six to ten yards was all too commonplace; all the while Lokey and the playside DE were both being double teamed like porn stars. We couldn’t get consistent pressure with four, which makes me wonder.
We have some deep fundamental issues in terms of toughness, in terms of leadership, and with a fair number of the guys wearing our headsets and drawing X’s and O’s on the whiteboards. This is heresy to write, but a home loss to a team like ASU may be required to force us into the fundamental changes we’ll need.
We may be provided that opportunity soon.
- Jerry expects T-New to be ready for the opener. And the WR's appear healthy and ready to roll.
Cowboys' Jones happy with Newman's recovery
Cowboys owner is optimistic Newman will play in season opener
11:28 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 5, 2007
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Terence Newman did not feel like talking about the partially torn plantar fascia in his right foot. Neither did Cowboys coach Wade Phillips.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones, however, said he liked what he saw from Newman on the field Wednesday during rehab work and is optimistic the cornerback will play in Sunday night's season opener against the New York Giants.
"He was pushing off and then he would rest it and then he would come back and push off again," Jones said. "The morning will be key. It'll be a little sore from the work he did."
Newman said he would talk about his availability for the game on Friday. Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he expects Newman to play.
Newman has not practiced in about three weeks since suffering the injury in a practice with Denver. Jones is holding out hope Newman will be available today.
Sounding board gone: Tony Romo had trust in Wade Wilson, but he will be without the quarterbacks coach for the first five weeks of the season. Wilson is serving a suspension for violating the NFL's policy on banned substances.
"Wade's great because he's always been a sounding board," Romo said. "He's a guy I can bounce ideas off of. He's spent so many years in the league as a player and a coach that he's always real good with explaining things and just those little tidbits on the field when I need questions answered quickly. It'll hurt definitely not having him around."
Romo said he spoke with Wilson after the suspension was announced. Wilson cannot have contact with the Cowboys until Oct. 9.
In the meantime, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett will work closely with the quarterbacks and coach Wade Phillips has brought on former coach Harold Richardson to serve as an extra set of eyes in the press box.
Parcells sought Giants job: According to Tom Callahan's upcoming book, The GM: The Inside Story of a Dream Job and the Nightmares That Go With It, which was obtained by the New York Daily News, then-Cowboys coach Bill Parcells met with a former colleague before the Giants-Cowboys game at Giants Stadium in December and expressed interest in the soon-to-be-vacated Giants general manager's job.
As part of a renegotiation after the 2005 season, according to Jones, Parcells could seek a GM job elsewhere in 2007, but he could not coach another team. Jones does not believe that affected Parcells' coaching performance.
"The one thing that I never questioned and I admired him for was his focus and his attention to detail, not only on game day but other days as well," Jones said. "He basically could have been just making sure at the time, but I don't question his focus and his intensity for that game. That didn't happen."
Terrell Owens dismissed the issue Wednesday.
"Man, at this point in time, anything regarding Bill Parcells is not a non-issue, it's a dead issue," he said. "D-e-a-d, dead. He's probably somewhere fishing. We couldn't care less about what's going on with Bill right now."
Cowboys expecting Strahan: Giants star Michael Strahan reported to practice Tuesday after missing all of training camp, but Coughlin is not sure if the pass rushing defensive end will play Sunday.
The Cowboys, however, are expecting Strahan to be involved in passing situations if he does not start.
"I'm reluctant to make a real quick decision on that," Coughlin said. "Obviously, there's been a lot of time missed. He needs to get in and get to work and know that he can defend himself. And I need to know that, too. That's going to take some more work."
Briefly... Receiver Terry Glenn returned to practice for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Aug. 1. ... Linebacker Kevin Burnett has stepped up his rehabilitation from ankle surgery now that the 12 staples have been removed. He is hopeful he can play Sunday. He was going to test his ankle during Wednesday's rehab work to see if he could practice today. ... Linebacker Greg Ellis did not practice, continuing his rehab from Achilles' tendon surgery. ... The Cowboys practiced inside Wednesday because of the morning rain.
- Rangers continue to roll, and win 1 run ball games. After playing horribly in 1-run games in 2006, they are now 24-16 this year. A direct result of the change in philosophy brought on by Ron Washington. Playoff teams win close games.
Rangers win 3-2.
Rangers closer to .500 after 3-2 win
02:15 AM CDT on Thursday, September 6, 2007
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com
ARLINGTON – Dare we even ask this question: Can the Rangers reach the .500 mark this season?
Given where they were, oh, three months ago, it seems implausible, absurd even, to ask such a question. But if they keep winning close games the way they have been lately, anything's possible.
With a 3-2 win over Kansas City on Wednesday, the Rangers crept within nine games of the .500 mark (65-74) with 23 still to play. It's the first time Texas has been within single digits of the mark since May 21.
"I don't know where we can finish," manager Ron Washington said. "We'll achieve whatever mark we achieve. But we've shown we can play good baseball, and I just want us to continue that."
Good baseball means winning close games, and the Rangers have excelled at that lately. The Rangers have won their last four one-run decisions, six of their last seven and 11 of their last 15. They are now 24-16 in one-run games this season. They've already passed the 2006 win total (17). They haven't won more than 24 one-run games since 2000 (they won 27).
With Vicente Padilla giving the Rangers solid work for six innings, the lineup on three occasions found ways to force single runs across the plate. On each occasion, they used the tenets of manufacturing runs to aid the inning.
In the second, Brad Wilkerson led off with a walk and then stole second. He scored on Hank Blalock's double.
In the fifth, Frank Catalanotto singled with one out and moved up on an errant pickoff throw, allowing him to score on Michael Young's two-out single.
And in the sixth, Wilkerson led off with a single, tagged up on a fly ball to move to second and then scored on Blalock's single.
"The experience of playing these kinds of games are only going to help us long term," Catalanotto said. "The pitchers learn how to pitch in these situations. We learn how to score. I think now we understand that if we get that one insurance run, the bullpen can close it down."
Said Washington: "Playing games like this and winning games like this, it makes you believe. It's helping us believe."
- Picks O'the day
Yesterday - 0-3
YTD - 140-129
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